Hawaii baseball team happy but hurting

Utilizing several resources, the Hawaii baseball team assembled an 8-4 victory over Longwood at Les Murakami Stadium.

A Sunday crowd of 1,196 saw the Rainbow Warriors amass 10 hits and six walks while receiving gritty performances from unheralded players.

By winning the first three of this four-game series, the ’Bows improved to 6-5, the first time they have been above .500 this season.

“It was a good win, but it was a costly win,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “We’ll see how costly.”

The ’Bows entered without their best slugger. Center fielder Adam Fogel missed his first game in two seasons because of a sore right shoulder suffered from sliding in Saturday’s game. Trapasso said if the pain persists today, Fogel will undergo further medical tests. Fogel’s availability remains in question for Tuesday’s series-finale against Longwood.

After plunking Longwood’s Michael Peterson in the fifth inning, UH starting pitcher Aaron Davenport was pulled after suffering an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder. The ’Bows were ahead, 4-1, at that time.

“I don’t what’s up with Aaron Davenport, but it’s not good,” Trapasso said. “It doesn’t look promising. You don’t see guys walk off the mound, with the toughness he has, with shoulder soreness. It’s too early to project anything. But it doesn’t look like he’ll be back immediately.”

In the first inning, UH catcher Dallas Duarte suffered an ankle sprain while running out a bunt single. He remained in the game, received treatment between innings, and played through the eighth inning. Tyler Murray, who underwent a wrist procedure during winter training and did not play in the first 10 games, replaced Duarte at catcher in the ninth.

“We don’t know about Fogel’s shoulder, we don’t know about Davenport’s shoulder, and we don’t know about Dallas’ ankle,” Trapasso said. “But we’ve got Tyler back. Down three, gain one. We’re only down two. Tyler will be able to receive and throw fine. The hitting will come. He’ll get stronger with each passing week. But just getting him back is a lift for us, especially not knowing what Dallas’ situation will be.”

The ’Bows made several moves to fill the gaps. Jacob Sniffin played left field, allowing Scotty Scott to move to center. Sniffin reached in all four of his plate appearances — two walks, an error, and a two-run double. Sniffin scored two runs.

Sniffin entered batting .167, a struggle attributed to being too anxious. Associate coach Mike Brown implored Sniffin to be patient and selective. “Not going up there and trying to hit every pitch,” Sniffin said. “Trying to get my pitch.”

In seven previous games, Sniffin played in right field. But Tyler Best’s rapid development as an outfielder enabled Sniffin to play left field. The previous weekend, Best committed five errors as a second baseman. This weekend, Best started in right field. He said he “probably was 12” when he last played in the outfield.

But Best made three putouts on Sunday, including an acrobatic catch in the first inning.

“Best showed he’s a very good outfielder,” Trapasso said. “We’ll see him out there a lot more.”

Best’s switch opened the way at second for Jack Kennelly, who was known more for his defense in junior college last year. But Kennelly reached base three times, scoring twice. Kennelly made two mid-game adjustments, refusing to chase starting pitcher Gage Williams’ high fastballs and battling reliever Jon Peterson’s off-speed pitches.

Following Davenport’s departure, Cade Smith surrendered Hunter Gilliam’s two-run homer to close the Lancers to 5-4 in the sixth.

Colin Ashworth pitched 22⁄3 innings of scoreless relief. After the Lancers placed runners in scoring position in the ninth, Calvin Turchin got the final two outs for his first save.